Attaching clip for metal moldings



Oct. 15, 1940. w. R. WILEY ATTACHING CLIP FOR METAL MOLDINGS Filed Nov.2, 1935 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I I 3.217381 I vATTACHING our roe METAL MOLDINGS William R. Wiley, Detroit, Mich.Application November 2, 1935, Serial No. 47,999

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a metallic clip for effecting the attachmentof sheet metal beading or molding to a sheet metal panel, as inautomobile body and door construction work, and

has for its object an improved organization of parts by means of whichsuch molding may be,

quickly, effectively and accurately positioned on the flat or curvedpanel. Such parts it is of course desirable to have wholly out of sightin the completed construction, and yet it is equallyessential that theattachment be capable of rapid installation and be as permanently firmas though the molding and the metal panel were soldered or otherwisemetallurgically integrated. The same principle of the frictionallyinterlocked engage-- ment of parts of the, unitary and slightlyresilient clip with the juxtaposed molding strip and supporting panelprevails as to each of the slightly variant embodiments of my inventionherein disclosed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 .is a perspective of a molding strip positioned on a panel andwith one form of holding clip in position thereon, the latter beingshown in phantom. c

Figure 2 is a sidesectional elevation'of that one of the embodiments ofmy invention which is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional end view taken along the line 3-3 ofFigure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown. I

Figure 4 is a side sectionalelevation of a molding strip and panelpiece, with a slightly modified form of clip shown in relation thereto.V

Figure 5 is a cross sectional end view of this modified form, takenalong the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of thearrows there shown.

Figure 6 is a 'sidesectional elevational view of a slightly furthermodified form of clip shown in relation-to a molding strip and panel.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional end view taken along the line -1-1 ofFigure 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

in Figures 1, 2 and 3. A represents a sheet metal body or door panel,upon which the fixed posttioning of the molding B is desired. Thismolding, it will be noted, has inturned flanges C, and

Referring first to the form of clip illustrated the panel A ispreparatorily apertured, as at D,

at suitable intervals, for the engagement of the panel-clinchingportions therethrough. These clips are stamped out from resilient sheetmetal and contoured so that the top portion is roughly semi-circular;from about 4 to 7 inclusive.

of the several clips the center portion depend the panel-engaging legsor' branches E and I, while extending longitudinally on either sidetherefrom, and similarly curved at their tops, are U-shaped branches Gand H. All of these parts are united by the 5 central web J. Thecurvature and size of this top portion and of the curved branches G andH is slightly greater than the distance between the opposing inturnededges C'of the molding piece, but so' slightly greater that they can .be1 easily forced therebetween, The resiliency of the metal is such,however, that immediately upon the passage of the curved branches G andH between the moulding edges 0, their tips spring slightly outwardagainst the webs of the inturned 15 molding edges C, so that thereafterthese curved head portions of the clips are firmly lodged within thedome portion of the molding, though capable of being slid therealong. pI

The depending legsor branches E and F each 20 preferably have theirmarginal ore-lateral edges outwardly bent, as at E and F, as well asbeing preferably slightly narrowed in breadth at the points E and FThese latter points represent the approximate position of the panel Arela- 25 tively to the clips when the molding is firmly seated againstthe surface of the panel A. The outwardly turned edges E and F of thelegs E and F, during their passage through the hole in the panel, havenot only frictionally engaged 34) the surrounding metal of the panel A,but have both dug thereinto slightly, the panel being of softer metalthan the clips, and have in many cases found minute irregularities inthe supposedly circular contour of the holes D, so that 35 additionalholding or clinching results. As soon, however, as the legs E and F havebeen-driven sufficiently through the hole D the shoulders E and F atthetop of the flanged edges of these depending" portions E and F haveslipped under the remote. surface of the panel A. and, cooper-:- ativelywith the edges of the panel holes D, have resulted in a clinching of theclip and its attached molding piece firmly against the outer surface ofthe panel A, so firmly indeed that it is quite onnecessary that thelower ends' of the legs or branches E and F be thereafter bent topositions of parallelism with theplane of the panel A.

The modified form of clip illustrated in Figures similarly 'an integralresilient 50 stamping, involves the union of the panel-engaging legs orbranches M and N at their lower ends. as at 0, but the resiliency of theclip web or body as a whole is such that the molding stripsinbent edgesC are resiliently and marginally en- 55 l gaged by the top portions Pand Q respectively of the legs M and N. As in the case of the form ofclip first described, these two portions P and Q (Figures 4 and 5) arenormally slightly N engage frictionally against the metal of the panelsurrounding the hole D in the same manner as before, and by theprovision of bent portions at the top of the branches S and R theseresilient legs" or branches when passed to the desired depth or degreewill thus anchor themselves in desired elevational relation to the planeof the panel,

due to the engagement of these bent portions against the panel metaledges surrounding the hole D.

It will be noted that the head portions P and Q of the clip illustratedin Figures 4 and 5 extend practically to engagement with the top orinterior domed surface of the molding clip, the

slight space shown thereabove in Figure 4 actu-' ally representing theimmediate center portion ,of the space enclosed by the molding stripwall,

which, of course, tapers off in each direction from the center, sothatits interior surface is engaged thereby in the position of the topportions P and Q illustrated in Figure 5. Such a construction lendsitself particularly to the assemblage of the molding strip and panel inwhich a relatively the same manner as the tongues R and Sin the formlast previously described in interlockingly' small aperture is providedin the panel and where the clips arefirst inserted therein and then themolding strip flanges C are thereafter pressed over the resiliently heldheads P and Q. In case, however, an appreciably larger hole is made inthe panel than is necessary for the entrance of the resilient legs M andN of the clip therethrough, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 at T, I find itunnecessary to cause the head portions, as V and Y, to. be of suchheight that they will engage the top of the molding strip. Theresiliency of the clips web is, however, such that when the branches Xand Z'ar'e compressed, the heads V and Y may be passed between themolding strip flanges C and their tips V and Y will interlock thereoverand hold the head portions of the clip from withdrawal from the interiorof the molding strip. The tongues W function in engaging with theirinbent tips W' against the rear or rear inner surface of the panel, thuseffecting a resilient draw in the other direction from that exerted bythe flared points V and Y previously described.

What I claim is:

1. A snap fastener installation comprising a plane surfaced aperturedsupport, a hollow supported member having inturned flanges and aone-piece metal double stud fastener adapted to be snapped into anaperture of said support and the interior of the supported member, thepart of said fastener extending beyond the support .on the side of thesupported member lying wholly within said member and engaging theinturned flanges thereof permitting a flush contact between the planesurface of said support and the flanges of said supported member, saidpart engaging each of said inturned flanges only at points widely spacedlengthwise of the supported member.

2. A snap fastener installation comprising an apertured metal support,and a hollow channelshaped molding strip having inwardly turned flangededges, a double-ended fastener of one piece folded metal constructionhaving a yieldable portion inserted in the aperture of said support andsnapped into locking engagement with a surface thereof, the remainder ofsaid fastener extending beyond the opposite face'of said support beingwholly confined within the molding and presenting pairs of independentyieldable portions widely spaced endwise of the molding and snapped intoengagement with the molding flanges;

3. A snap fastener installation comprising an apertured channel-shapedmolding st'rip having inwardly turned flanged edges, 'a double endedfastener of one piece folded metal construction having convergingportions inserted in the aperture of said support, said convergingportions having cam surfaces engaging the under surface of said supportat the margin of said aperture whereby said snap fastener is snappedinto' looking engagement with said support, the remainder ofsaid'fastener extending beyond the opposite. face of said support, beingwholly confined within the molding and presenting pairs of independentlyyieldable. portions widely spaced endwise of the molding and snappedinto engagement with 'the molding flanges.

4. A, snap fastener installation comprising an apertured metal supportand a hollow channelshaped molding strip having inwardly turned'flangededges, a double ended fastener of one piece folded metalconstruction having a yield able portion inserted in the aperture ofsaid support and snapped into locking engagement with asurface thereof,the remainder of said fastener extending beyond the opposite face ofsaid support and comprising a portion extending longitudinally withrespect to said hollow channelshaped molding strip, said longitudinallyextending portion having adjacent each end thereof a pair of, downwardlyextending snap fastener portions independently yieldable. and snappedinto engagement with the molding flanges to secure the molding inposition with respect to said support.

WILLIAM R. WILEY.

